Welcome from Dean Johnson

San Diego State University’s College of Education has many strengths. Our graduates include multiple local, state, and national teachers of the year; several school district superintendents and community college presidents; and the most diverse array of counselors, therapists, and school psychologists produced by any university in the nation. Our current students are among our brightest ever, evidencing both outstanding academic potential and a deep commitment to make a positive difference in the lives of the children, youth, adults, and families they will serve. Through their cutting edge research, innovative programs, and highly respected scholarship, our faculty and staff influence positive change in our local community and state, as well as throughout our nation and world.

We have many reasons to be proud, but we have even more reasons to focus upon improving. Through our own programs, we see the powerful difference that outstanding teachers, counselors, therapists, and leaders make. We see tangible evidence of our influence on the lives that our graduates touch. At the same time, we see that there are so many more children, youth, and adults who struggle to achieve their potential. Our successes give us reason to be proud, but also give us reason to re-double our efforts so that we make even more of a difference through our academic programs, our research and scholarship, and our service to our community.

As we welcome a new academic year, we embrace the challenge of building upon our strengths so that we make an even greater difference in San Diego and throughout the world. This year our academic programs are working to ensure that our graduates will demonstrate clear evidence of the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that are essential to influencing positive change in the lives of the children, youth, and adults they serve. Our faculty and staff are developing and implementing practical research that will influence the improvement of early childhood centers, elementary and secondary schools, institutions of higher education, and various community entities in San Diego and beyond. We are working to become the best place in the nation to learn how to positively influence the lives of diverse populations of children and adults through careers in teaching, counseling, therapy, school psychology, and educational leadership. We accept our university’s slogan as a mandate. We truly believe “Leadership starts here!”

Administration

Dr. Joseph F. Johnson, Jr.

Dean

Dr. Joseph F. Johnson, Jr. has a distinguished record of leadership roles within school districts, state education agencies and the U.S. Department of Education.

Joe joined the College of Education in 2005 as a professor of educational leadership and executive director of the National Center for Urban School Transformation and he leads efforts to identify, study and promote the best practice of high-performing urban schools and districts. As a member of the Education Leadership faculty, he helps develop and teach programs designed to prepare effective school and district leaders.

Marilyn Bredvold

Marilyn Bredvold has been supporting San Diego State University’s academic programs and funded projects for over two decades. She has been a staff member in the SDSU Research Foundation, providing grant development and research administration services for campus-wide and individual college projects. In the College of Education, Marilyn became Assistant to the Dean in 2006. Marilyn is a graduate of the University of Minnesota.

Dr. Nancy Farnan

Nancy Farnan currently serves as Interim Associate Dean in the College of Education. Previously, she served as Director of the School of Teacher Education. As a faculty member in Teacher Education, she co-directed an award-winning credential program. She has written numerous articles, books, and book chapters; and works closely with several community and state agencies, including the Youth Council of the San Diego Workforce Partnership, California Department of Education, Linked Learning Alliance, and California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. She has extensive experience working with various agencies and communities of practice where the goal is to prepare all students for both college and career and eliminate existing opportunity and achievement gaps.

Supported by over 2.5 million dollars in grants from the James Irvine Foundation, she has led a network of seven teacher preparation institutions in California to prepare new secondary teachers with the unique skills and abilities to teach effectively in Linked Learning pathway programs and career academies.

Martha Pedroza

Martha Pedroza is presently the Assistant to the Associate Dean in the College of Education at San Diego State University. She is the College’s RTP Representative and works closely will all College-level committees. In addition, Martha coordinates international scholars’ visits so that they are able to conduct research at SDSU. Martha has over 35 years of experience in secretarial/administrative positions at SDSU. She is fully bilingual in English and Spanish languages. She has strong organizational skills, extensive knowledge and experience in data base design and programming, bookkeeping/record keeping. Previously, she worked at the San Diego County Office of Education as an Administrative Secretary for the Bilingual Education Department and the San Diego County's Instructional Television (ITV) Channel; and for other several federal-funded projects at San Diego Unified School District. Martha has been recognized for excellence in performance and was awarded the Presidential Staff Excellence Award (2008), the College of Education Dean’s Excellence Award (2009), and was recognized for 35 years of service to SDSU (2013). She completed a series of courses in computer applications at SDSU; Clerical Civil Service courses at Memorial Adult School; and bilingual technical, industrial and commercial courses in Baja California, Mexico. In addition, Martha has a Dress Designing/Tailoring Diploma from a private college in Baja California, Mexico. Martha has done volunteer work at schools and other community agencies (San Diego City Schools Mexican-American Advisory Board, Chula Vista High School District, Association for Mexican-American Educators, Congregational Tower Retirement Housing Foundation, etc.). Martha has also served as an independent consultant for many agencies.

Dr. Patricia Lozada-Santone

Dr. Patricia Lozada-Santone has focused her research efforts on the application of social learning theory to issues in education and health care, health promotion and disease prevention. She has over 30 years of working experience in the field of Public Health and Education; she has received numerous awards, locally, nationally and internationally, for her contributions to minority health and education programs and outstanding service to public health and education. She serves on many State and National Boards and does consultant work for State and Federal Agencies such as the United States Information Agency Bureau, CDC, NCI, & NIH and Latin American Countries. Dr. Patricia Lozada-Santone was named Assistant Dean for Student Affairs in the College of Education at SDSU in December 2001. Her areas of expertise include teacher education, urban education, public health education and leadership. During her twenty years at SDSU, Dean Lozada-Santone has developed collaborations with local schools, school districts and community agencies. As the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, Dr. Lozada-Santone’s primary responsibilities are to “help students deal with issues that interfere with their academic progress.” She listens to students to assess what is hindering them from succeeding academically and them helps them find the assistance and resources they need to resolve issues. Dr. Lozada-Santone has had a long-standing commitment to the development of diverse underrepresented students. She has long been involved with programs that promote academic excellence among students who come from underrepresented and educationally disadvantaged backgrounds. Dr. Lozada-Santone is also the Director of the College of Education’s Global/Cultural Experience Program. In this position Dr. Lozada-Santone oversees the creation of a range of international experiences that reflect the fundamental educational goals and objectives of the college. The experiences will facilitate students’ development of the knowledge, skills and level of cultural awareness that will prepare them for global citizenship in the twenty-first century.

Office of Student Services (OSS) Staff

Lisa McCully

Lisa McCully started at San Diego State University in 1988 and has been with the College of Education since 1998 where she has served in the capacity as Budget Assistant, Budget Manager, Operations & Support Services Manager, and currently, as the Manager of the Office of Student Services. She is responsible for the College’s recruiting, marketing, advising, admissions, communications, credentialing, and commencement efforts. Her previous positions have provided her with extensive experience in budget planning and administration, facilities planning, and employee training and development.

She holds a Bachelor of Adult and Vocational Education, a Master’s in Education with a specialization in Postsecondary Educational Leadership, Student Affairs, and is currently working on her Ed.D. in Postsecondary Educational Leadership from San Diego State University.

In her free time, when not writing her dissertation, she spends way too much time watching TV crime dramas! She also enjoys time with friends and family and her favorite vacation activities include spending time at her family’s cabin in the eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains, long road trips, and spending time in Hawaii.

Jackie Fuller

Jackie Fuller has worked in the College of Education since 2011 as the Advising and Recruitment Specialist in the Office of Student Services. A large portion of Jackie’s job duties includes representing all of the College's many impressive degree, credential and certificate programs at a variety of fairs and recruiting events. If you see her at an event, stop by and say hello! She also assists with creating promotional documents for these programs and coordinating the annual commencement ceremony as well as helping to produce the College's e-newsletter, InformED & InspirED.

Jackie's passion for working with college students developed during her time as an undergraduate student at Santa Clara University where she was a Resident Advisor. Her time advising in the residence halls truly helped shape her career path and after graduating with a Bachelor's of Science in Anthropology, she entered the Master's in Education with a specialization in Postsecondary Educational Leadership, Student Affairs program at San Diego State University. Jackie finished her M.A. in 2007 and worked in Housing & Residence Life at New Mexico State University before returning to SDSU in 2009 as a Residence Hall Coordinator. Jackie's many years in university Res Life departments makes her quick on her feet and always up for a challenge!

In her free time, Jackie enjoys spending time with her family, baking cupcakes and online shopping.

Melanie Falkenberg

Melanie has been working at San Diego State University since 2005. She currently processes admissions for preliminary credential programs in Teacher Education, Bilingual Education, and Special Education along with several master’s programs within these departments. She enjoys working with students and helping them get closer to reaching their goals.

Ann Nguyen

Ann (Nhung) Nguyen currently serves as a Credential Analyst in the College of Education’s Office of Student Services. She joined the college in 2008, having previously worked at National University as a Technical Support Specialist and Transcript Coordinator. Ann works with credential candidates to ensure they have satisfied all requirements necessary to earn a California teaching/services credential. She also serves as a prospective student advisor. Ann holds a bachelor’s degree in Accountancy from National University.

Photo Coming Soon

Sylvia Hernandez

Credential Analyst, OSS

For students who have last names that begin with L - Z

Sylvia Hernandez first joined the College of Education at SDSU in 1992. After a brief move to CSU San Marcos in 2005, she returned to SDSU to serve as one of two credential analysts in the Office of Student Services.

Sylvia developed an interest in student services shortly
after graduation from UCSB when she went to work for their admissions office
specializing in admissions for incoming freshman. Sylvia ultimately moved to an
academic advising position where she was assigned to work with several
undergraduate programs including the liberal studies program for teacher
education. This experience sparked a lifelong interest in the credentialing
process and credential program advising.

Sylvia enjoys travel, reading, learning to knit and spending
time with friends and family. She especially enjoys going to animated movies
with her 7 year old nephew Preston.

Finance & Operations Support

Julie White

Julie White is an SDSU Alumnus. She has been working on campus since 1993 in several positions: as a program office manager, a SDSURF Sponsored Research administrator, the assistant to the College of Education Associate Deans and, currently, as the College of Education Manager of Budget and Analysis.

Creative Media Lounge (CML)

Technology Help Desk

Gregg Koyamatsu

After receiving his Master's degree in Educational Technology, Gregg began working for San Diego State University. As an operating systems analyst for the College of Education, his primary responsibilities include assisting faculty and students in the College of Education Technology Labs, serving as server administrator for the web, database, domain, and file servers, and researching and upgrading technology facilities.

Andrea Saltzman

Andrea Saltzman Martin joined the College of Education in 2007 as an instructional designer. Andrea earned a Master of Arts degree in Education with an emphasis in Educational Technology and a bachelor’s degree in Social Science from SDSU. Andrea supports College of Education faculty with course design and development with an emphasis on hybrid and online course delivery. She also works with faculty across campus through the Course Design Institute run by Instructional Technology Services.

Manny Uribe

Before joining the Dean's Office team in 2013, Manny served as the Web Developer for the SDSU Division of Undergraduate Studies and the Pre-College Institute. Manny has presented on topics related to web usability, accessibility, and other best practices at national conferences including the annual Council for Opportunity in Education Conference in Washington D.C.

Manny is an SDSU alumnus and is currently pursuing a Professional Certificate in Digital Media at SDSU.

Assessment & Accreditation

Nina Salcedo Potter

Dr. Nina Salcedo Potter joined the College of Education in 2008 as the Director of Assessment. Her background is in educational measurement, statistics and research design. Her research interests include formative program evaluation and outcomes-based assessment. She works with faculty and administrators to use assessment data to help make decisions at the student, class, program, and college level. Before coming to SDSU, Dr. Potter was the Director of Assessment for a school district in Washington and state and taught early childhood special education.

Data Management

Sandra Kahn

Sandra Kahn is the Data Administrator for the College of Education, where she supports administrative decision-making, assessment and accreditation. Sandra has a Master of Arts degree in Education with a Concentration in Educational Leadership and a Specialization in Postsecondary Education. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from the University of California, San Diego.

Development

Megan Beardsley

As a San Diego native, she obtained a Bachelor of Science in Applied Arts and Sciences in Business Administration (Management) from San Diego State University. Her inspiration for education came from her husband, father and father-in-law – all SDSU alumni. With over five years of experience in development, Megan discovered her passion for philanthropy while working at Employment & Community Options right here in San Diego. She recently worked at the Burn Institute where she and her husband also volunteer their time to provide support for burn injured children and adults.